Search Results for:

There are two popular options for adding affordable storage on your property—shipping containers and storage sheds. While sheds have been used for generations to store equipment and more, the idea of using shipping containers for this same purpose has gained popularity. Each of these two options can be a winner, but it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each to determine which option is right for you.

American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal shed options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Consider Size

Thinking about the size of your desired storage space will go a long way toward determining which of the two is best for your needs. As you might imagine, shipping containers can be rather large—they tend to range from 8-feet to 40-feet in length, are about 8-feet wide, and are approximately 8-feet tall (depending on the model). The larger ones are more common, so that may be the only option available in your area when looking to purchase a used shipping container.

If you don’t need something as large as a standard shipping container, you’ll want to look instead to a storage shed. These tend to be smaller in size, and when you order from American Steel Carports, Inc., you can customize the dimensions to fit perfectly on your property. Also, shipping containers are rectangular, but sheds can be designed with many different layouts.

Think About Aesthetics

Shipping containers aren’t designed to be pretty. They have a job to do—transporting goods safely from one place to another—and it doesn’t matter how they look along the way. Typically, they are painted a bland color and marked with the name of the shipping company. That’s fine when they are on trains or boats, but you might not like how they look in your backyard.

This is another way that metal storage sheds have an advantage over containers. The sheds we offer are available in many different colors, meaning you can nicely match the finished product to the rest of your property. You can also add nice touches like accent trim pieces and even exterior Wainscoting.

Custom Door Selection

You won’t have any choice regarding access to your shipping container. These containers come with large swinging doors on the back that are typically the same size as the container itself. If you need to move large pieces of equipment in and out, those doors might be just fine.

But what if you want to use this space for storage? Those big doors will feel like an unnecessary hassle. A custom metal shed can be fitted with the exact type of doors you need. You can add a regular walk-through door or a rollup door with dimensions to suit your requirements. Windows can also be added if you plan to spend time in the shed and would like some natural light.

Other Uses

Both shipping containers and storage sheds can work nicely for storing extra items that don’t fit in your garage, barn, or anywhere else on your property. But what if you want to use this new space for more than just storage? If you would like a workshop space, for instance, you’ll need something big enough to handle your projects. Or, you might want to transform at least part of this new space into an office.

Whatever the case, a metal storage shed is going to be more flexible as a space that can serve multiple purposes. As mentioned earlier, shipping containers are rectangular, and the big ones are much longer than they are wide. That’s fine for storage, but not such much for doing other tasks, as the narrow side-to-side dimension could be a limiting factor. By custom designing your own metal shed, you can select the perfect dimensions to allow you to do whatever you’d like in the space.

Purchase a Shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.!

We hope we’ve helped you decide whether a shipping container or a storage shed is right for you! If you’d like to order a reliable metal storage shed from American Steel Carports, Inc., use our Build & Price to start designing a structure to meet your exact needs!

There are few amenities that bring summer to life more than a swimming pool. When you have a nice place to take a dip, those long, sunny summer days are a treat each time they arrive. Of course, a pool comes along with a lot of supplies, in the form of maintenance equipment, toys, and more. However, these handy pool storage sheds from American Steel Carports, Inc. can help you stay organized!

American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal shed options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

It’s About Convenience

Could you store your pool supplies somewhere else, such as in your garage? Of course. But that garage probably isn’t anywhere near the pool, making it a major inconvenience. And, you’ll be using up valuable garage storage space that could be used for your vehicles and other possessions.

With a metal shed right next to the pool—or only a short walk away—your life as a pool owner will get much easier. Need to bring out a few maintenance supplies to care for the water and get it ready for tomorrow’s party? No problem. Need to stash away your pool toys after a day of playing? You’ll be able to toss everything inside, shut the door, and go on with your day.

Don’t Break the Bank

Owning a pool is a ton of fun—but it’s not exactly cheap. In addition to the cost of installing the pool, there are ongoing maintenance and operating costs to consider. With that in mind, adding an affordable metal storage shed is a great way to optimize your pool area without adding too much cost.

You might first think about a wood structure when you picture a shed, but metal is an attractive alternative. When comparing metal and wood sheds, you’ll enjoy significantly lower construction costs with a metal structure and fewer maintenance requirements as the years go by. Also, metal sheds are easy to customize, especially when your order from American Steel Carports, Inc. Our handy Build & Price tool allows you to adapt the design to meet your exact needs!

Design Your Shed

Make a List of Equipment and Supplies

Before you place an order for a new shed, it would be a good idea to document what will need to be stored in the shed. The last thing you want is to have your shed constructed only to find later that it is not going to be big enough for everything you’d like to store. Some items you might consider keeping in your shed include:

• Pool maintenance equipment
• Swim toys
• Patio furniture
• Landscaping equipment (leaf blower, shovels, rakes, etc.)

It’s important to remember that your storage needs may change as time goes by. So, in addition to accounting for everything you need to store now, design your shed with a little extra room that can be used down the line.

Picking the Right Site

Along with determining what is going to go in your new structure, you also need to figure out where to put the shed. On this point, you should try to strike the perfect balance in terms of distance. On the one hand, you want the shed close enough to the pool to be convenient for storage and retrieval. On the other hand, you don’t want it so close that it interferes with the use of the pool in any way.

Start by looking off to the sides of the pool for a relatively level, open space. You’ll want to set the shed back far enough to allow for plenty of room to walk around the pool. Also, wherever the shed lands, you’ll want to think about finishing the ground surface between the shed and the pool, so you don’t have to walk through grass or dirt to get there.

An Attractive Addition

If you have been putting off the idea of adding a storage shed because you are concerned about how it will look, take a moment to explore the shed options here at American Steel Carports, Inc. We think you will find our structures to be visually appealing, and you can select from a long list of colors to make sure your shed looks great with the rest of your landscaping!

Purchase a Shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.!

Enjoying your pool with family and friends is far easier if the space is organized and free from clutter. That’s why you should browse the quality pool storage sheds from American Steel Carports, Inc.! Also, be sure to explore our Build & Price tool to see the many possibilities for your new structure.

There are many reasons to want a shed in your backyard. Whether it’s for storing tools, working on projects, or something else entirely, this structure needs to be built in just the right spot. Along with the design of the shed itself, the location of this new structure will largely determine how functional it is and how often it’s used. With this post, we’d like to help you choose exactly where to put a shed in your backyard.

American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal shed options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Follow the Rules

It is possible that there are some rules in place that will determine where on your property a shed can be placed. These rules may come in the form of setbacks from the property line established by local authorities, or they may be related to your HOA. Whatever the case, seek information on the rules first so you don’t pick out a spot only to find out later that it won’t be allowed.

The Purpose of Your Shed

The location you choose for the shed and the uses you have in mind for it will go hand in hand. For instance, if you are building a shed to use as a craft space or even an office, you’ll want to make sure it’s easy to access and relatively near your home. On the other hand, a shed that is mostly for storage and will only be used occasionally can be placed farther away.

Be Practical for Construction

Building a metal shed is a pretty easy task, especially when you team with an experienced company like American Steel Carports, Inc. With that said, the site prep and construction process can become more difficult if you pick a challenging section of your property. Some possible challenges include big slopes, low areas that collect water, and rocky ground. There are often ways to work around these difficulties successfully, but the project will not be as easy as with a flat, clear piece of land.

Contact Us

Consider Design

Even if your shed is more for practical purposes, you’ll still want to make sure it looks good wherever it lands. If it will be mostly out of sight from the outdoor living areas around your home, you probably don’t need to think too much about things like color and other finishes. However, if your shed will be easily seen by yourself and your guests, think about making it part of the overall design. Pick an appropriate color scheme for the exterior and do some landscaping around the building to help blend it in nicely.

Design Your Shed

Appropriate Access

If you can’t get in and out of your shed, there isn’t any point in building the shed in the first place. The type of access you establish for your shed will depend on its purpose. Here are a couple of examples:

• Riding lawnmower. For those with a big lawn, a riding lawnmower is a near necessity. Parking the mower in a shed is a nice idea, but you’ll need to have easy access from the grass and a ramp to get in and out without any trouble.
• Office. Metal sheds can make great detached offices by offering some valuable peace and quiet away from the house itself. If your shed is actually going to be an office, you won’t want to walk through mud or even wet grass on the way to get some work done. Locate your shed somewhere easy to reach from the house and consider adding a finished walk that will take you right to the door.
• Potting shed. Do you love to garden? A potting shed would make a great addition to your yard, as it provides a protected place to do your work and get plants started. For access to this type of shed, there are a couple of points to keep in mind. First, it should be relatively close to your garden, so you don’t have to carry plants and supplies back and forth. Also, include a wide door in the design of your shed so you can bring things in and out without any trouble.

Purchase a Metal Shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope you better understand where to put a shed in your backyard. With that ideal location identified, you can then work with American Steel Carports, Inc. to design the perfect shed for your needs. Our Build & Price tool is an easy and exciting way to get started. If you have any questions along the way, contact us for assistance.

Gone are the days when wood was your only option for building a new shed. Now, there are plenty of materials that can be put to use for this type of building, with metal and vinyl being two popular choices. But which is better? In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons of each material to help you decide which is right for your project.

American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal shed options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

An Edge on Wood

Before we get too far into directly comparing metal and vinyl, we can see that both of these options have a nice advantage over wood. Each is going to resist issues caused by rot and insects, which is not something that can be said for wood buildings. Also, the construction timeline of a wood shed tends to exceed these two, so the overall cost of your project will be higher in most cases. While wood might be a traditional choice and some may prefer the look, there are plenty of advantages to favoring metal or vinyl.

Fire Concerns

If fires are a particular concern in your area, you can feel good about either metal or vinyl when planning your shed build. Vinyl sheds are fire retardant, and metal sheds are not going to catch on fire due to the basic composition of the structure. There are still threats to worry about when you use these materials for a new shed, but you can put fire worries low on your list.

Need a Big Shed?

There are plenty of smaller shed options available in both metal and vinyl construction. However, if you need a large shed added to your property, metal may be the better option. As an affordable building material that requires minimal structure as part of its design, you can erect a big metal building for a modest investment. If you’ve been putting off the big shed project you’ve had in the back of your mind because you fear it will cost too much, take a closer look at a metal building from a supplier like American Steel Carports, Inc.

Build Your Shed

What About Customization?

You might be able to find a pre-designed shed that will suit your needs, whether you decide to go with vinyl or metal. Unfortunately, that plan isn’t going to work for everyone, as some projects call for a custom solution that is suited perfectly to both the space available and the intended use of the shed. If you need something custom, you’ll probably want to look into metal structures. For instance, we offer a Build & Price tool which allows you to easily customize nearly every element of your shed before placing an order. Rather than trying to make something work that isn’t quite right for you, it will be possible to get precisely what you desire.

Maintenance Tasks

It’s always important to think about maintenance when adding a new building to your property. To make sure you get the most return on your investment, you’ll need to care for your building as the months and years go by. With metal and vinyl, the news is good on this front—there just isn’t much to do. Each can be easily cleaned with some water and a gentle brush, and you’ll want to look inside regularly to make sure no critters have taken up residence. Otherwise, these are both low maintenance buildings that can be expected to serve you well for many years to come.

Metal Delivers Strength

One of the selling points of a metal shed that may be a bit lacking with vinyl is the overall strength of the structure. A metal shed, when constructed by a reputable supplier, can be expected to deliver excellent strength for an affordable price. That strength will help it stand up to whatever elements Mother Nature may decide to deliver. Quality vinyl sheds can also offer solid performance and durability, but perhaps not to the level of a top-quality metal product.

Purchase a Metal Shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope these pros and cons to metal and vinyl sheds have assisted you. If you’re ready to see what a metal shed can add to your property, use our Build & Price tool to start designing a structure that fits your exact needs!